Chinese envoy pleads ignorance over visa row

Chinese ambassador to India Zhang Yang pleaded ignorance of his country denying visa to a top Army general, B S Jaswal, to the Ministry of External Affairs, adding he would get back with the details from his government soon, well-informed sources disclosed on Saturday. Jayanth Jacob reports.

Chinese ambassador to India Zhang Yang pleaded ignorance of his country denying visa to a top Indian general, whose jurisdiction includes Jammu & Kashmir, to the Ministry of External Affairs, adding he would get back with the details from his government soon, well-informed sources disclosed on Saturday.

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In another development, the Chinese Defence Ministry said it has neither suspended military exchanges with India nor did it receive any notification from India on the issue. But it chose to remain silent on denying visa to the Northern Army commander, Lt Gen B S Jaswal, for a military exchange programme.

Chinese media also kept mum on India refusing visa to three Chinese officers and putting on hold all military exchanges, barring the border personnel meeting.

"China has not suspended military exchanges with India, and nor has it received any notification from India of any such suspension," the press office of the Chinese ministry said in a statement faxed to Reuters.

Well-informed sources said the envoy would get back with the details about the particular incident, and this one shouldn't be taking a "one-dimension" approach in seeing India-China ties that are "complex" and having "convergences despite divergences on many issues."

"China takes seriously developing military ties with India, and we are confident that both sides will stay focused on the broader picture of bilateral ties..., acting in a spirit of consultation and unity to promote the healthy development of military ties," Chinese Defence Ministry statement said.

India has put on hold its defence exchanges with China after Jaswal was refused permission to visit Beijing as he commands J&K that has been at the core of recent row, with Beijing issuing stapled visa to Indians in Kashmir as well as helping Islamabad in projects in PoK.

Taking a cautious stand, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Friday, "There may be some short-term problems, but they will not come in the way of the country's overall approach towards our neighbour."